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On the date

Friday, January 8, 1909

From the day

Perspective: The Street Photographer · Sound

The sharp, metallic clatter of the elevated trains overhead nearly drowns out the newsboy shouting that the New York Central’s President Brown says we must spend $7,500,000,000 to fix the railroads. I adjust my viewfinder, capturing a dandy in a wool overcoat who is humming "Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet" while dodging a puddle of slush. Some blockhead in a motorcar almost clips my tripod, the scent of thick exhaust mixing with the aroma of roasting chestnuts on the corner. I ignore the racket, waiting for the light to hit a soot-stained facade just right before the winter sun vanishes behind the skyscrapers.

Memories from that day

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Best-selling Sheet Music

Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet

Percy Wenrich

The must-have

Rook (Card Game)

Slang

Slang of the decade

General

bullyfit as a fiddleblockhead

Aristocrat

capitalmy wordbally

Working Class

gadzooksblimeychump

Catchphrases of 1909

  • Peary to the Pole

Tech Check

Toaster, Silencer for Guns & Instant Coffee.

Cost of Living (1900)

Loaf of Bread

$0.05

Gallon of Gas

$0.10

Average Home

$3,200

New Car

$1,000

Time Elapsed

42,882 days ago

(117 years, 177 days)